Pepperdine University Coastal Run/Walk Game

<center><img src="start.jpg"></center> There's a rush palpable among the huge crowd that’s shown up for this race. You love this feeling—all the energy and excitement and it's meaningful in another way: Your best friend Jamie was taken into foster care when you were in 6th grade and two of you never saw each other again. You’ve always wondered what happened to Jamie. You think back again to the presentation you recently attended about foster kids in L.A. You had no idea that there were so many foster children in Los Angeles County. <center>[[An estimated 3,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]] [[An estimated 5,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]] [[An estimated 7,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

[[Gameful Design Lab|http://gamefuldesignlab.com/]]

<center><img src="bestfriend.jpg"></center> No wait, that’s not right… <center>[[An estimated 5,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]] [[An estimated 7,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="bestfriend.jpg"></center> No wait, that’s not right… <center>[[An estimated 3,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]] [[An estimated 7,400 kids 12-21 years old are in the foster care system in LA County.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="horrible.jpg"></center> Many of them are there because they were in situations involving abuse and neglect. You’re thankful that there’s child protective services to identify and intervene, but the story doesn’t end there. So many of these kids have less than ideal foster care experiences. <center>[[You try to maneuver and shoulder your way to the front, hoping to get ahead of the pack.|RaceStarts]] [[You move with the flow, even though you’re not in the best starting position, you know that eventually the crowd will spread out a bit and you can move ahead then.|RaceStarts]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="runninggroup.jpg"> You are running in a 10k/5k race along a beach in LA. Remember to breathe, pay attention to rhythm, and flow with it.</center> You think about your childhood friend. Jamie, who was always sort of in your face, blunt about feelings and ready for any dare. Jamie was also extremely charismatic, easy to like and able to talk out of most trouble. These were great qualities in a friend for someone as introverted as you, pushing you to as brave and daring while relying on you to temper and reason when things got fiery. Like many foster kids, Jamie was allowed to live with relatives after being separated from family. As you’re remembering more about Jamie’s life, you notice that the crowd has thinned a bit, and you start identifying the possible competition. <center>[[Let’s be honest here, you’ll be lucky to finish the run, so your competition are pokey like you.|CatchUp]] [[You recently decided to challenge yourself with a run, after a health scare last year. You’re determined to finish this first official run!|CatchUp]] [[You’ve been training for this for a while and are ready to win this thing!|CatchUp]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="losttouch.jpg"></center> You continue to think about Jamie and remember that at some point Aunt Esther passed away, so Jamie was sent to a group home and then eventually placed into a non-relative foster home. When that happened, you sort of lost touch, since you weren’t in the same school anymore. You find that you’re keeping pace pretty closely to one of your competitors. They notice, too, and decide to match pace with you with a, “Hey, how you doing?” “Uh.. I’m good, thanks. You?” you reply. “Oh, I’m good!” Your new friend beams excitedly. “This run is great! We’re doing this for such a good cause! Wouldn’t you agree?” “Oh.. um… yeah, I do actually.” <center>[[You do, actually.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="pair.jpg"></center> “Good guess, but it’s actually 50%!” <center>[[You grimace and nod and keep running.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="pair.jpg"></center> “Hey, you know your stuff!” <center>[[You grimace and nod and keep running.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="pair.jpg"></center> “Good guess, but it’s actually 50%!” <center>[[You grimace and nod and keep running.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="girl.jpg"></center> “Nah, it’s 25% Heh… ready for an even harder one?” <center>[[“Well, actually,” you reply, “if you don’t mind, I’m trying to concentrate on the run.”|RaceContinue]] [[“Um.. ok, another one!” You’re starting to like this spontaneous quiz even though you know you should concentrate on the run.|RaceContinue]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="girl.jpg"></center> “Hey, that’s right! Lemme ask you a harder one!” <center>[[“Well, actually,” you reply, “if you don’t mind, I’m trying to concentrate on the run.”|RaceContinue]] [[“Um.. ok, another one!” You’re starting to like this spontaneous quiz even though you know you should concentrate on the run.|RaceContinue]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="pregnant.jpg"></center> “Just one more!” [huff] [puff] “How many foster girls do you think get pregnant as teens? And did you know a bunch of them suffered from abuse or neglect? I wonder how many of them suffered from sexual abuse...” You marvel at how much your new running buddy can say while running, even if a bit out of breath, though you do notice your pace is starting slow... <center>[[Making something up, you say, “Oh I know this, actually. 15%.”|SpeedUp]] [[Making something up, you say, “Oh I know this, actually. 20%.”|SpeedUp]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="neglect.jpg"></center> You speed up and escape from the fellow competitor who is way too talky, you concentrate on getting back in the groove. Actually, now that you think about it, though, you do remember from that presentation you went to that 25% of foster girls get pregnant before reaching adulthood, and your friend was right, 40% of them suffered from some sort of abuse or neglect. The frown is starting to reappear on your forehead, and you struggle just to not be very, very angry. <center>[[You’ve got to get your head back in the game and concentrate on breathing and pacing.|SpeedUp2]] [[You think back to your friend Jamie and wonder if drugs or abuse ever figured into Jamie’s life.|SpeedUp2]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="babies.jpg"></center> You begin to think about those babies and toddlers who go into foster careThey still seem to have problems growing up, even if they never knew their biological parents. For various reasons, they seem to be at higher risk of developmental delays or neurological impairment... <center>[[Okay, breathe, concentrate on your cadence. Remember your practice runs.|SpeedUp3]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="bestfriend.jpg"></center> You wonder how Jamie is doing now. Is Jamie still in LA? Most people who grow out of foster care don’t have a place to live initially, and 27% of the homeless were foster kids at some point while growing up. This might be because it seems that many former foster youth don’t earn more than $10,000 per year! And those are the ones who are earning anything at all! You hope Jamie’s okay. Maybe you can track Jamie down somehow… You double check and notice that you’re on track for setting a personal record, despite the weird conversation set back. Guess it wasn’t much of a setback. You spend some time thinking about foster kids and why you’re running. <center>[[This seems to invigorate you, and you find new motivation to keep at it.|RaceFinish]] [[It’s hard to not get angry and depressed, and this seems to be throwing you off your game a bit.|RaceFinish]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="flow2.jpg"></center> <center>[[Rhythm.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="finish.jpg"></center> Suddenly -- you've been running for so long, but it seems too soon, somehow -- the finish line is just ahead of you. You feel a surge of energy and really go all out as you cross it. Your time is fantastic -- better than you'd hoped for. And you feel great knowing that along with this new personal best, your participation is helping kids in L.A. Kids like Jamie. "Hey! How'd you do?" Guess who's back at your elbow, grinning from ear to ear? Now that you're not trying to run and hold a conversation about some pretty heavy stuff at the same time, you're glad to see your talky friend again. <center>[["Hi! Pretty well, actually! How about you?" you ask.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="intro.jpg"></center> !!Be a Champion for Foster Youth For more than 75 years, Pepperdine has created a variety of programs that focus on improving future generations by providing children with the support, aid, and resources that lead to a prosperous adulthood. By supporting the Coastal Run/Walk for Foster Youth, you will partner with us in improving the lives of foster children in Los Angeles County. Please take a moment to check out our virtual run! <center>[[Warm up and get to the starting line.]]</center> <center><a href="http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/events/coastal/"><img src="coastallogowhite.gif" style="height: 200px;"></a></center>

<center>[img[Running-a-Race.jpg]] You are running in a 10k/5k race along a beach in LA. Remember to breathe, pay attention to rhythm, and flow with it.</center>

<center>[img[running-group.jpg]] You are running in a 10k/5k race along a beach in LA. Remember to breathe, pay attention to rhythm, and flow with it. Who talks during a race??</center>

<center>[img[runners_silhouette_banner.jpg]] You are running in a 10k/5k race along a beach in LA. Remember to breathe, pay attention to rhythm, and flow with it.</center>

<center><img src="runninggroup.jpg"></center> You notice that you’re way farther than you’d assumed. Must not have wasted too much time chatting, then. You do notice that your legs are definitely feeling it. You’ve been told that running a race pushes you more than just the practice runs, and apparently it’s true. Hopefully, you won’t hit a wall. <center>[[Breathe.]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center>[img[running-silhouettes.jpg]] You are running in a 10k/5k race along a beach in LA. Remember to breathe, pay attention to rhythm, and flow with it. You're almost there.</center>

<center><img src="pair.jpg"></center> “Yeah, it’s great!” the runner continues. “It’s so important to raise awareness about foster youth, especially here in LA.” Wait. What’s going on here? You totally agree with this person, of course, but who tries to have a conversation while running in a race?? Confirming your incredulity, the runner starts to sound a little out of breath, stating, “Hey, lemme ask you a question. How many foster kids end up using illegal drugs do you think?” <center>[[You answer “Um… 30%?”]] [[You answer “Um… 40%?”]] [[You answer “Um… 50%?”]] [[You answer “Um… 60%?”]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

[img[Pepperdine University Coastal Run/Walk Game|coastallogowhite.jpg]]

<center><img src="jail.jpg"></center> Your new running buddy continues, “And how many of foster kids go to jail by the time they turn 20, you think?” <center>[[“5%”]] [[“15%”]] [[“25%”]] [[“35%”]]</center> <<display BottomRunner>>

<center><img src="finish.jpg"></center> "Not bad...better than I was expecting," your new friend says. "That's great," you reply. "Hey, I hope I wasn't too abrupt back there. I was just really focused on my time, and then your questions got me wondering about my best friend from childhood. It was a lot all at once. <center>[["Thanks for the reminder, though. I think I'm going to look into what else I can do to help foster kids."|Reveal]]</center>

<center><img src="celebrate.jpg"></center> This is all met with another giant grin. One that looks vaguely familiar... "You always did have a good heart. Even in sixth grade." Sixth...what? Wait. Jamie. <center>[[It's Jamie.]]</center>

<center><img src="celebrate.jpg"></center> "Jamie?" Then you're both laughing. You hug and exclaim how good it is to see one another. You have a lot of catching up to do, so you make plans to get coffee later in the week. And it looks like you have a new running buddy! -- Thanks for playing the Pepperdine University Coastal Run/Walk Game! Please consider making a [[donation|http://www.imathlete.com/donate/PepperdineCoastalWalkRunforFosterYouth]] to GSEP Coastal to directly benefit foster care children in Los Angeles by providing them with mentor/foster grandparents, psychological counseling in our mental health clinics, and the opportunity for one on one as well as team coaching for college readiness. <center> [[Register for the real Coastal Run!|http://www.imathlete.com/events/EventOverview.aspx?fEID=22562&fQuery=&z=1422493223174]] [[Or learn more about donating!|http://www.imathlete.com/donate/PepperdineCoastalWalkRunforFosterYouth]]</center> <center><a href="http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/events/coastal/"><img src="coastallogowhite.gif" style="height: 200px;"></a></center>